Duke struggled in big games early in the season, much like most of the ACC. Led by superstar freshman Cooper Flagg, Duke has steamrolled opponents as of late, culminating with a 29-point victory over ACC dark horse Pittsburgh. The ACC appears to have no answers for the Blue Devils who are currently 5-0 in conference play. Duke’s ACC dominance seems inevitable, but the question will soon shift: can the Blue Devils make a perfect run through conference play? Considering the weak nature of the ACC, there will be far fewer tests than some other power conference teams will endure. So who will give the Blue Devils a loss? Can anybody beat them?
Duke’s ACC Dominance: Will Flagg Lead Duke to 20-0?
Three matchups in the ACC will give the Blue Devils the greatest challenge. There will undoubtedly be games outside of these three that Duke struggles to win because that is just the nature of college athletics in general: the results can be very unpredictable. However, these three games will likely decide the fate of Duke’s undefeated regular season.
February 1st vs. North Carolina
The biggest rivalry in college basketball needs no explanation. These teams hate each other and will battle for glory no matter their records. North Carolina thrives on guard play, but Duke’s size and athleticism gave Pitt’s guards everything they could handle. Ian Jackson‘s ascension opens a viable shotmaking option for the Tar Heels, but every bucket will be difficult against the team ranked first in Kenpom‘s defensive efficiency.
At the end of the day, Duke still hasn’t lost a game on their home floor. They’ve even beaten the best team in college basketball: the Auburn Tigers. North Carolina has played quality opponents this season, but their worst performances have come against those teams away from home. I don’t expect that North Carolina will end Duke’s ACC dominance, but anything can happen in rivalry games.
Final Prediction: Duke 76, North Carolina 64
February 8th at Clemson
Clemson has put together another solid season that will likely put them in the NCAA Tournament. They’ve already beaten Kentucky at home with only one loss. In a world of upsets, Clemson has already pulled off a big one on their home floor this season and could pick up another one here. The biggest problem with Clemson has been their inconsistency. They’ve already lost to the worst SEC school, South Carolina, in what will likely go down as their worst loss of the season.
Their inconsistency makes the game difficult to predict, but they will bring everything they have for the Blue Devils. However, Duke’s ACC dominance will not stop in Clemson. The size and athleticism will trouble the oft-offensively challenged Tigers and lead to a low-scoring affair. Duke will remain undefeated through their trip to Clemson.
Final Prediction: Duke 64, Clemson 55
March 8th at North Carolina: The End of Duke’s ACC Dominance
There is a good chance that Duke will head into their regular-season finale with an undefeated record in ACC play. That will just add fuel to North Carolina’s fire. The Tar Heels will look to defend their home floor and avenge their loss to their bitter rival from early in the season. It will be senior day for RJ Davis and he will go out with a bang.
North Carolina will have everything to play for, struggling to obtain their bid to the NCAA Tournament. All they need is a key victory over the top-ranked Blue Devils. They’ll fight and do what nobody else has done during conference play. The headline will write itself: “Tar Heels Cement Tournament Bid, ending Duke’s Unbeaten ACC Season.” Hubert Davis picks up the win that possibly saves his job after his rough start.
Final Prediction: North Carolina 74, Duke 72
The Last Word
The Blue Devils still will finish atop the ACC standings, as Duke’s ACC dominance is clear. However, the idea of an unbeaten ACC regular season is not so clear. Their bitter rivals will be more than freshmen Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel can handle. This rivalry just means more. However, 19-1 in the ACC will certainly earn the Blue Devils a one-seed in the NCAA Tournament. It seems like a matter of when for Duke, not if.
Final Record Predicition: 19-1.
